Page 8 of Fated In Blood (Nocturne Vampire Clan #1)

8

EVANGELINE

I forced my way deeper into the crowd, my bared arms brushing against theirs, my strange, potent scent—normally my most effective weapon—working against me in these close quarters. Nostrils flared, fangs glinted, and pupils dilated to pinpricks when the monsters smelled me in their midst.

What had once been a strength was fast becoming my greatest weakness.

But at least I was moving in the right direction. Just before the staircase, I broke free of the throng, heading toward the curving banister, depressing the button on the secret weapon clenched in my sweaty palm.

The explosive device had cost me dearly, a special commission from a friend of a friend of a Valentine’s regular, packed with enough C-4 to vaporize everything within twenty feet. I’d barely attached it beneath one of the dragon heads when a big meaty hand closed around my arm. Bosch .

“I warned you about moving, human.”

“Not my fault. I got carried along by the crowd.” I tried pulling away but couldn’t budge those meaty fingers. “So, here I am, still thirsty, still no closer to getting a drink. Please tell me there’s an open bar close by?”

Fucking hell, I was still well within the blast radius.

“You are going to regret setting foot in here, human. But I have just the place for you. The auction could use another sacrificial lamb. You won’t much like where you end up, but…I don’t give a fuck.”

Relief flooded through me when Bosch dragged me away from the staircase, under the balcony, then down a wide corridor lined with guards, toward what I assumed was tonight’s auction.

I only had a few more seconds. I’d have to time this perfectly…

“Shit.” I grasped my ankle and pitched forward, my arm ripping out of Bosch’s grasp, before face planting onto the rug. I flattened myself down, throwing my arms over my head as a blast of explosive heat and supercharged air rippled overhead, incinerating everything above me, flames racing along the walls and ceiling.

The sound wave hit us a second later, blowing out eardrums, Bosch crashing down beside me, staring blankly from a blistered, ravaged face, blood leaking from his ears. “You did say this was the kind of party where some of us have fun and others do not.” I narrowed my eyes, realizing he couldn’t hear and my clever reply was completely wasted.

“I sure hope you’re having fun, asshole.” I shoved to my feet, sucked in a choking breath, and launched myself into the explosive-laced smoke.

Maybe the fucker could read lips.

The entire first floor was unhinged chaos, bloodied vampires racing for exits as I fought my way through the panic to the unmarked door to my right. I’d memorized the castle’s layout, the exact number of steps between my location and where my sister was being held.

These servants’ stairs led to Lord Tyrell’s private suite. The High Master, Spencer had called him. Not Dad, or Father, or even Sire…but High Master .

She belongs to the High Master now, he’d said. God, I hoped I was right about Angel’s location.

I took the steps two at a time, then picked my way across the damaged balcony, strewn with bodies impaled by splintered wood. I leapt over what was left of the staircase—a gaping hole edged with smoking floorboards—trying not to imagine how much that two-story fall would hurt, then bolted down the smoke-filled passage toward the private suite beyond.

I took down the two posted guards, leaving them bleeding out on either side of the door. Please let my sister be behind this door . Without thinking, my hand closed around the doorknob. Instantly, a river of pain electrified my entire body, and I landed flat on my back, heart beating erratically, spots dancing in my vision.

I was still alive. That mistake should have gotten me killed.

As it was, the fingertips on my right hand were numb, almost useless.

I shoved away the pain and lunged to my feet, sticking a second, smaller device to the door, then retreated around the corner and pressed my back against the wall.

The explosion blew the door wide and I was through before debris stopped falling, knife in hand, barely ducking down low when my sister swung an enormous sword straight at my throat.

The blade sank into the wood above me with a solid thunk , then Angelique stepped back, blinking. “Evie? Evangeline Grace Silverwood, what the hell are you doing here ?”

I stared at my sister. She stared back, her hair a liquid drape of white gold over one shoulder, not a scratch on her. A sob burst out of me, relief washing through me so fiercely I almost dropped to my knees.

Only now could I admit I thought I’d lost her for good.

“You nearly took my head off.” I threw my arms around her rigid body, both of us talking at the same time.

“What are you doing here, Evie? How did you even find me?” I stepped away, vaguely registering Angel’s stiffness and the odd, confused expression on her face.

“I’m saving you, Angel. Let’s go. I have a car waiting.” I jerked my head toward the door. “We only have a narrow window of time to escape. I’ve mapped out a route. It’ll take us ten minutes to reach the wall, if we run.”

My bottom lip wobbled as the enormity of what lay ahead of us hit me. “Ten minutes, Angel, and you’ll finally be free.” I gripped her arms and tipped my forehead against hers, chest aching. Everything I’d done since the night she disappeared had paid off. I’d actually succeeded. She was alive.

All we had to do was…

“Free?” She pulled away, her brow wrinkling. “You think…You thought I was being held here against my will? How did you even find me, Evie?”

“I’ve been searching ever since the night you disappeared.” I wrapped my fingers around her fragile wrist and dragged her toward the door.

“I never gave up. I’m so sorry.” I swallowed, scanning the empty hallway, screams filtering up through the smoke. “It took me so long to find who kidnapped you. Then I had to figure out a way inside the castle without arousing suspicion.”

“How did you find me, Evie?” Angelique’s mouth was an angry line as she yanked out of my grasp. “ How ?”

“By hunting down and questioning vampires. But I wasn’t sure you were here, not until I…I…”

Angel was dressed in clothes that cost a fortune. Her blond hair was perfectly coifed, her makeup impeccable, her skin glowing. A lavish half-eaten dinner waited on the table, candles still burning, the second chair pulled out as if…she was waiting for someone.

“…found Spencer. Only then was I sure…you were here.” Every word grew softer as I surveyed the scene before me with fresh eyes. Beyond my sister, a rumpled bed was lit by even more candles. Two small red marks marred her perfect, pale throat.

Her words echoed inside my head : You thought I was being held here against my will?

Air sawed in and out of my lungs.

“Fuck.” Angel whirled away. “Fuck, Evie. What did you do? Did you…Were you the one who killed Spence?” Her face went white. “Please tell me you didn’t kill him.”

I reached out my shaking hand. “Angel, we have to go. We’ll talk about this in the car.”

“This is my home , Evie,” Angel explained, her eyes flicking to the door, where the screaming was growing louder, a haze of black smoke curling along the ceiling. “These are my people now.”

Then she moved, faster than any human could have ever moved, and snatched my knife away.

I blinked down at my empty hands.

“I’m one of them now. A vampire. This castle is mine. Laurent Tyrell is mine . And you killed his only son.” Her pale blue eyes flickered with profound sadness. “You should never have come here, Evangeline. I’ll do what I can, but we have rules in our world, and Laurent will make you pay dearly for killing his heir.”